Learn about the history of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, equality and justice by exploring major events in the history of their oppression on this day of the year.
4 October
EL AL AMSTERDAM CRASH SPEWS SARIN GAS INGREDIENTS
On this day in 1992, El Al Flight 1862 crashed into flats in the Bijlmermeer neighbourhood of Amsterdam, killing up to 50. Dutch Minister Hanji Maij-Weggen stated that it contained no military cargo. In 1998 El Al said the cargo had included 190 litres of dimethyl methylphosphonate, used for the synthesis of Sarin nerve gas. Many residents and service personnel developed health problems, which they blamed on the El Al crash. 67% reported symptoms similar to Gulf War syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome.
4 أكتوبر
في مثل هذا اليوم من عام ١٩٩٢، اصطدمت طائرة العال رحلة رقم ١٨٦٢ بالشقق في حي بجل مرمير في أمستردام، مما أسفر عن مقتل حوالي ٥٠ شخصًا. صرح الوزير الهولندي هانجي ميج-وجين بأن حمولة الطائرة لم تحتو على أي معدات او مواد عسكرية. في عام ١٩٩٨، قالت العال إن الشحنة تضمنت١٩٠ لترا من ثنائي ميثيل ميثيلفوسفونات، والتي تستخدم لإنتاج غاز الأعصاب السارين. عانى العديد من سكان المنازل القريبة وموظفي الصيانة من مشاكل صحية، وألقوا باللوم فيها على تحطم طائرة العال. ٦٧% من الأعراض المُبلغ عنها كانت مشابهة لأعراض حرب الخليج أو أعراض التعب المزمن.
Soon after the disaster it was announced that the aircraft had contained fruit, perfumes, and computer components. Dutch Minister Hanja Maij-Weggen asserted that she was certain that it contained no military cargo.
Air Crash Investigations: Inferno in Amsterdam. The Crash of El Al Flight 1862, p.137. George Cramoisi ed)
An El Al cargo plane that crashed in Amsterdam six years ago was carrying a chemical that can be used in the manufacture of the deadly nerve gas Sarin, a spokesman for the Israeli national airline acknowledged today.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the chemical was not toxic and had been ordered by Israel to test gas masks and other filters designed to protect against chemical agents. The Israeli Defense Ministry said that the plane carried no ''dangerous goods'' for the ministry...El Al spokesman, Nachman Klieman, said ''We fly sugar, which can be used for cake, but that doesn't mean we're flying a cake.'' The Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reported on Wednesday that the plane was carrying about 50 gallons of dimethyl methylphosphonate, which the paper said was enough to produce 594 pounds of sarin... *
[T]he material came from Solkatronic Chemicals Inc. in Morrisville, Pa., and was sent to the Institute for Biological Research in the Israeli town of Ness Ziona, south of Tel Aviv. The institute's work is a closely guarded secret in Israel. The Dutch paper said that three of the four main components needed for the production of sarin were on the El Al plane, and that it was unclear whether the burning of the chemicals had contributed to health problems experienced by people living in the area of the crash. Neither the spokesman for El Al or for Mr. Netanyahu mentioned the presence of other chemicals on the plane.
*594lbs of